Posted by John on April 10, 2001 at 10:57:59:
In Reply to: A staring contest posted by PSteven on April 10, 2001 at 08:30:03:
I can't quite get them to make eye contact! This metaphor jumps to life with me. Imagine the power we could have if we looked with these eyes. Not just spiritually but also at other people. If we learned to stare into their souls and see Christ there. Someone would have to be pretty carnal-hard to stare back and not crack under that kind of vision. Further, what about those who refuse to look? --We should reach to them and take hold of them. Let them feel our touch, literally, human touch, especially one given in genuine love conveys as much power as a look. If practiced this I bet we could see demons literally screaming away from those who are beaten down. (Ask my wife, I bet she has.)
: The simplicity that John is talking about is certainly my goal as well. We all have different "complications", and yet they are very much the same. We all may need different methods (points of faith) to begin to systematically purify our lives, and yet our real desires are the same. I wish my life was unencumbered so that I could spend sufficient time in the blast furnace of glory to burn off this dross. How lame is it to try to give oneself in fervent adoration while watching the clock? How can we seek truth while consumed with urgencies that have no worth in the spectrum of true priorities? How can we seek healing if the majority of our necessary endeavors are spiritually carcinogenic?
: Yeah, I know--but you feel like somehow your state is worse than most of those other happy and fulfilled people you see all around you. You see your mask; can you not see theirs? Can you not see that they are entrenched in the same conflict? Do you think your conflict is more pronounced because you are farther from the ideal state you should be? Perhaps you do not see their conflict; perhaps they hide it well. Perhaps their conflict is indeed less intense. Is this because they have made more progress, or is it just because they have lower expectations? Is it because they see more clearly, or is it because they have learned not to look this monster straight in the face anymore? Maybe they are just more COMFORTABLE in their dilemma, consoled by a certain amount of healthy denial. The fact that your conflict tortures you so deeply should be great cause for HOPE. You will not be satisifed by adding spiritual merit badges to your mask, like the Pharisees sported their phylacteries. And so you will indeed find the miracle that you seek.
: Would it be of any use to tell you that I stopped looking at your mask a long time ago? And you are still my good friend, after all. Your mask is unimpressive. But if you could see who you really are, you would be more than impressed. So have a staring contest with your demon, and see who really turns away first.